Reading the first chapter of the book was an interesting experience for me; seeing things through the eyes of a paleontologist with a profound passion for fossils was a perspective that I've never considered before. He calls fossils "more valuable than gold" (1), an essential source that aids us in our understanding of the structures of our bodies. I have never really given much thought to the theory of evolution, but this chapter introduces some essential points. I discovered that the process of digging for fossils is very difficult and requires meticulous care. Shubin provides many specific details that accurately depicts a genuine archaeological expedition. Because he mentioned that luck sometimes plays a role in discoveries, readers can infer that expeditions are not always successful, which may cause frustration. He spent around six years in the harsh conditions of the Arctic searching for fossils, which further reveals his determination and perseverance. It was also interesting to me how Shubin mention that "serendipity" plays a role in the discovery of fossils.
Prior to reading the book, I was unaware how closely related our bodies are from fish. In addition, I liked how Shubin utilized diagrams and drawings to help personalize his discoveries and make the book more interesting to read. I am looking forward to reading more about Shubin's discoveries in chapter two.
-Irene Kim
Shubin uses "serendipity" as a trail to getting to their inner fish. If they wouldn't have found Hynerpeton, gotten into an argument/debate over about some geological esoterica, and "pulled the lucky geology textbook" (15), they wouldn't have found that their expedition should start off in the Arctic Circle. It was their good fortune mixed in with luck that got them to the High Arctic of Canada and played an important role in finding Tiktaalik. I liked how you mentioned serendipity because it actually played a significant role in the first chaper of Your Inner Fish.
ReplyDelete- Meha Marathe